Straw-stacker



4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

-J. B. BARTHOLOMEW.

STRAW STAGKER.

' wmuzsscsk- (No Model.) 4 Sheets- Sheet 4. J. B. BARTH'OLOMEW. ST'RAW STAOKER. N0. 556, Patented Mar. 1'7, 1896.

JJZM;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. BARTHOLOMEIV, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS.

STRAW-STACKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 556,487, dated March 17, 1896.

' Application filed April 2, 1894. Serial No. 506,133. (No model.)

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN B. BARTHOLOMEW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Peoria, in the county of Peoria and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usef ul Improvements in Straw-Stackers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawlngs.

This invention relates to improvements in foldable stackers used for elevating straw and delivering it to the stack, although features of the invention are applicable to other forms of carriers or elevating apparatus; and the object of the invention is to provide a carrier which can be made in two or more sections adapted to be'supported in working position by a rope or its equivalent, under such relationship that the steps incident to folding and unfolding can be accomplished easily and with the leastmani p ulation of parts and without changing the length of the supportingrope which is in use during such folding or unfolding operation, and hence avoiding the several unwindings and windings of the rope now ordinarily required in devices of a similar character to mine.

lVhile the improvements comprise several features of advantage with respect to details of construction and relative relationship of parts, the more essential features consist in hinging the stacker to a supporting-frame, which is stationary relative to the stacker, and forming it with an inner section and an outer section hinged to the inner section, whereby it can swing in vertical planes upon its hinge, and a rope extending from the said supporting-frame to the outer section, and having an attachment thereto or a bearing thereon at a point in or adjacent to the transverse vertical plane of the hinge which unites the two sections.

The two sections of the stacker or carrier are adapted to be folded together, and the outer section may be folded either downward and under the inner section or upward and over it, while still embodying my present invention; but in either case the aforesaid attachment or bearing for the supporting-rope carried by the outer section of the stacker or carrier frame is arranged above and adjacent to or in the vertical plane of the hinge of the outer section.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a stacker embodying one form of my invention, it being represented in full lines in the position assumed when in use, and it being represented by dotted lines in two positions which it occupies or assumes during the folding or unfolding of the sections of the stacker-frame. j Fig. 2 represents in full lines one of the positions represented in Fig. 1 by dotted lines. Fig. 3 shows in side view the parts of the stacker in their com pletely-folded position. section of the stacker. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of another form of my invention, it being shown in full lines in working position and by dotted lines in a position assumed when the parts are being folded. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the same parts shown in Fig. 5, the parts being shown by full lines in their finally-folded position and by dotted lines in their intermediate folded position.

In the drawings I have indicated at 10 a portion of a frame to which the stacker, elevator, or carrier, as a whole, is secured, the stacker-frame being connected to the supporting-frame by a hinge 26 of any suitable construction. As shown, this supporting-frame is the rear end of a thrashing and separating machine, but in many cases stackers are supported upon independent frames and runninggear-that is, they are mounted independently of the thrashing-machineand the present invention may be applied to such vehicleframes.

The stacker shown in the drawings comprises a frame made in two parts, an inner frame, 12, which is hinged to the supportingframe, and an outer frame, 13, which is hinged at 14 to the end of the inner frame. The de 'tails of the frame may be of any preferred sort, there being, and as is illustrated, suitable longitudinal bars 2 vertical pieces 24, and inclined braces 20, the latter supporting and strengthening the frame adjacent to the hinge 14. The hinge and other parts are so situated that the adjacent ends of the two frame-sections can be brought into proper line to holdthe elevating devices in proper position, there being stops or abutments of suit Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical ICU able sort to prevent the frame-sections from swinging past such line. The cross-bars 25 at the adjacent ends of the frame-sections opcrate as abut-ments or stops of this character.

An endless-belt conveyer 21 is supported upon the wheels or rollers 22 in the usual manner. In order to prevent the lower returning portion of the endless conveyer from sagging too much and from dragging upon the ground when the stacker-frame is being folded or unfolded, I provide the outer section, 13, of the stacker-frame near its outer end with a supporting-frame 30, over which the conveyer travels, and which operates to hold up the outer end of the lower portion of the conveyer, as represented in Figs. 1,2 and 15 indicates a rope which serves as the support for holding the stacker in working position. There may be one or more of such supporting-ropes, though I prefer to employ but a single rope, the ends of which are attached to a shaft 27 or similar winding device, from whence the rope extends to the outer section of the frame of the stacker, extending across the under side of this section, as represented in Fig. 1, and being supported and held in guides 28.

The shaft 27 can be rotated to wind in or let out the rope when it is desired to change the position of the delivery end of the elevator while at work. To so rotate it I prefer to employ a chain 29, which is operated by a sprocket-wheel 33, on the shaft of which there is arranged a crank-handle, situated in an easily accessible position. The sprocketchain connects the wheel with a sprocketwheel 32 upon the shaft 27.

Stacker-elevators have been heretofore constructed with each or all of the hereinbeforedescribed parts, broadly considered, but in such earlier devices it was necessary, when it was desired to fold up the stacker-sections, to

let out the supporting-rope in order to lower the elevator as awhole, then to fold the elevator-frame more or less, and then to wind up the supporting-rope. I obviate the necessity of these several manipulations in the folding and unfolding of the stacker, elevator or carrier frame, and so dispose the parts that the operator can, by a single short movement of the adjacent ends of the frame-sections 12 and. 13 independent of any lengthening or shortening of the supporting-rope, bring the weight of the outer section into play in such manner that it automatically causes the folding of the two sections into or nearly into the position in which they are secured during transportation or storage.

At 19 there isrepresented an attachment or bearing for the rope 15 uponor carried by the outer section of the carrier-frame. As shown, this is provided by a frame 18, projecting upwardfrom the outer or upper section 13, some distance from the upper edges of the side walls thereof, the frame being so constructed and arranged that the point of rope attachment or bearing 19 is in or adjacent to the whole.

vertical plane of the hinge 14, which unites the two sections of the carrier-frame.

In the form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4: each bearing 19 consists of an eye through which the rope passes as it extends from the shaft or drum 27 to the guides 28, and which eye is normally above the straight line that connects the eyes 28 and the shaft or rope support at 27 when the two sections of the stacker-frame are in line with each other. From this arrangement it follows that the rope presses downward upon the frame 18, and hence upon the ends of the sections 12 and 13, adjacent to the hinge which unites them. As the rope passes through the eyes or guides at 19, and is attached to the outer section of the frame at points beyond such eyes, there is exerted an upward draft or pull on the outer part of the upper section, and hence upon the elevator or carrier frame as a This arrangement of the rope-bear ing frame 18 and of the supporting-rope is preferred in that construction of my invention in which the hinge 14 is situated at the lower adjacent corners of the two frame-scctions, and the outer section is adapted to fold down, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4:, as thereby I the rope draws upon the outer section, supporting the elevator or carrier frame as a whole,while it also presses downward,through the frame 18, slightly upon the frame-sections close to their hinge-line, thus holding them in line with each other with suflic-ient rigidity for all practical purposes when the sections of the stacker are in working position.

The points of attachment or bearings 19 for the rope are arranged on a line, transverse to the frame, which is in or adjacent to the vertical plane of the hinge 14C, and in the construction shown in Fig. 1 the bearings 19 are preferably alittle inside of the hinge when the parts are in working position. The eyes 28, or the outer places of attachment of the rope to the carrier-frame, have also a peculiar re- ICC lation to the vertical plane of the hinge 14c and the vertical plane of the rope bearing or attachment 19, this relation being such that the parts of the stacker or carrier frame are held in stable equilibrium when in working position, but the extent to which the two parts or sections of the frame may be moved relative to each other and still tend to automatically come back to such position of equilibrium is comparatively small, although it includes the different working positions of the stacker under ordinary circumstances; but if the two sections of the frame are moved relative to each other or buckled beyond a comparatively slight degree the parts will not tend to automatically come back to working position but will then tend to automatically fold together. Thus as soon as the axis of the hinge 14 comes to lie inside of the vertical plane of the points 19 during the action of buckling the sections of the frame the weight of the outer section comes into play, and, without altering the length of the rope between the shaft 27 and the guides 28, com-' pels the frame to move in such way as to swing the hinge 14 up in an are around the hinge 26, carrying the adjacent ends of the sections 12 and 13 upward and inward to about the position shown in Fig. 2 and by one set of dotted lines in Fig. 1, after which the frame-section 12 and the hinge 14 remain practically at rest, the outer section, 13, easily and automatically dropping into the position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1 when the automatic folding of the stacker ceases. This is nearly the complete folded position of the stacker-frame and leaves nothing to be done except to swing the lower light end of the outer section, 13, in toward the hinge 26, where it may be secured in any suitable way; or a fastening at the bottom may be dispensed with, and after the outer section has come to rest in its vertical position the rope 15 can be wound up a few inches upon the shaft or drum 27, which will result in drawing inward the section 13 to the complete folded position, as represented in Fig. 3.

If the vertical planes of the rope bearings or attachments 19 and of the hinge 14 are coincident or nearly so, as before described, it will be understood that but a slight push, as by the hand of the operator, is necessary to buckle the frame and start the automatic folding action of the parts, no movement of the ropethat is, no lengthening or shortening of it longitudinally-being necessary.

By reference to Fig. 1 it will be observed that during the first part of the folding operation, and while the outer frame-section, 13, extends out approximately horizontally, and hence its weight is exerting the greatest effect, the inner section is carried upward and inward, and such movement of the inner section counterbalances the movement of the section 13. When the parts come to the position shown in Fig. 2, the supporting-rope has been carried. upward from the position which it occupied when the parts were in their working position, but thereafter, and while the outer frame is moving from the position shown in Fig. 2- to that indicated by the lower set of dotted lines in Fig. 1, the supporting-rope as a whole is being carried downward by the movement of the outer section and the frame 18. In moving between the two last-referred-to positions the draft upon the rope 15 required to sustain the section constantly diminishes, and at the same time the points of attachment of the rope to the outer section are constantly changing relative to the rope attachment at 27 on the stationary frame, so that the draft upon the rope which tends to support the outer section of the frame is applied with less and less advantage, until, the part of the rope between the points 19 and 27 crossing the hinge-line 14, the rope ceases to have any tendency to support the outer section in an extended position, when the section will hang down freely. In the meantime, however-tl1at is to say,

from the first buckling of the frame of the stacker until the parts assume the position last referred tothe rope operates to sustain the stacker as a whole, notwithstanding the fact that the rope itself vibrates (compare Figs. 4, 2 and 3) when the two sections move relatively to each other about their hinge-axis, and when so vibrating crosses said axis, having at one time a position in a line intersecting the vertical plane of the axis at a point above the latter and at another time lying in a line intersecting said plane at a point below the axis.

It will be understood that there can be variations in dimensions, relative positions, 850., of the several essential parts of the apparatus without departing from my invention. If the distance between the vertical planes of the parts at 14 and 19 be increased or decreased materially there should be a corresponding variation in the positions of the eyes 28, or the outer points of attachment of the rope, and, in any event, the several parts of the apparatus should be so related that there may be more or less variation of the position of the entire frame to vary the place of delivery without materially affecting the possibility of breaking the lock of the hinge 14 by a slight upward pressure.

In the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 the hinge 14, which unites the two sections of the stacker-frame, is arranged above the stops or abutments 25, so that the outer or upper section, 13, can fold upward relative to the lower section and have its distant end carried over the supporting-frame 10. In this embodiment of my invention the rope 15 is shown as being secured to the frame 18 at the point 19; but the rope may pass through an eye at the point 19 and be secured to the outer section at a point beyond the said rope attachment or bearing 19, in which case,

of course, the position of the rope would be similar to that indicated in Figs. 1 to 4. In this form of my invention there should be such an observance of the relations of the several parts to each other and of the location of the point 19 with respect to the vertical plane of the hinge 14 as that the operator, by exerting, not an upward thrust, but a downward pull upon the hinge at 14 can not only release the sections from their locked relationship to each other but can allow the gravity of the outer section to assist in and largely cause the inward folding of the frame until it rests upon the top of the supporting-frame 10, after which it can be drawn into final position by winding in the rope 15 or by pushing inward from the under side of the section 12.

I do not deem it necessary in this specification to describe in detail the manner in which this form of my invention operates, as I have made this form of my invention the subject-matter of another application, Serial No. 555,567, filed July 10, 1895, as a division of this case.

In both forms of my invention the rope 15 extends from its support or connection upon the stationary frame to the outer section of the stackenframe directly, and such rope operates at all times to sustain the stackerframe, and at the same time it operates, whenever the outer section isbein g moved relative to the inner section, to resist forcible or violent falling of the outer section, so that while the outer section will fold relative to the inner section automatically it does so easily and without danger to the apparatus.

It will be of course understood that when the opposite operations are taking place-that is to say, when the parts are being unfolded or moved into working position the weight of the parts is likewise availed of to cause an easy movement of them to the desired position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patcut, is

1. The combination with a supportingframe, of a carrier-frame hinged to the supporting-frame, and formed with two sections which are hinged together, and a rope having attachment 011 the supporting-frame, and extending directly thence to the outer section of the carrier-frame, independently of and without attachment to the inner section thereof, and operating to support both sections, and having connection with the outer framesection at a point in or nearly in the vertical plane of the hinge which unites the two sections, when the carrier is in working position, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a supporting frame, of a carrier-frame hinged thereto and formed with two sections which are hinged together, a frame carried by the outer section of the carrier and extending upward therefrom, and a supporting-rope having attachment upon the supporting-frame, and having attachment to the said frame which is carried by the outer carrier-section at a point in or nearly in the vertical plane of the hinge which unites the two sections, when the sections are in working position, said rope being arranged as described without attachment to the inner carrier-section, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with a supportingframe, of a carrier-frame hinged thereto and formed with two sections which are hinged together, a frame carried by the outer section of the carrier and extending upward therefrom, and a rope having attachment upon the supporting-frame, extending thence directly to the said frame which is carried by the outer carrier-section to which it is connected at a point in or nearly in the vertical plane of the hinge which unites the two sections when the sections are in working position, and extending thence to the outer carrier-section to which it is secured at a point between the hinge and its outer end, said rope being arranged without attachment to or bearing upon the inner carrier-section, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with a supportingframe, of a carrier-frame hinged thereto, and formed with two sections united by a hinge below the sections, a supporting-rope having attachment on the supporting-frame and connected directly with the outer carrier-section between its hinge and its outer end, and not connected directly with the inner section of the carrier-frame, and a frame carried by the outer carrier-section, with which the said rope has connection,the said frame being arranged to deflect the rope upward out of a straight line which connects the points of attachment of the rope 011 the supporting-frame and with the outer carrier-section when the carrier is in working position, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with a supportingframe, of a carrier-frame hinged thereto, and formed with two sections which are hinged together, and with stops 0r abutments on one side of the hinge which connects the sections to limit the movement of the sections in one direction about said hinge, a rope which supports the weight of both sections and is connected with the outer section of the carrier at a point in or nearly in the vertical plane of the said hinge, and a winding device, or its equivalent, for the rope situated upon the supporting frame, whereby the carrier sec tions are held by the rope in stable equilibrium, relative to each other, when the carrier is in working position, and whereby when the sections are buckled the said rope sustains the carrier as a whole and, while resisting the movements of the outer section permits it to automatically and easily fold by reason of its weight, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with a supportingframe, of a carrier-frame hinged thereto and formed with two sections which are hinged together, a rope which sustains the weight of both sections, it extending directly from the supporting-frame to and connected with the outer section between its ends and being held above and independently of the inner section, means for taking in and letting out the rope whereby the working position of the carrier may be varied, and a frame in which the rope has support, carried by the outer section of the carrier and projecting upward therefrom to a position in or immediately adjacent to the vertical plane of the hinge which unites the two carrier-sections, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination with a supportingframe, of a carrier-frame hinged thereto and formed with two sections which are hinged together, a rope for supporting the carrierframehaving attachment upon the supporting-frame, and a frame carried by the outer section of the carrier near its inner end to which the said rope is connected, the point of connection of the said rope with the said frame being such, that it is above the hinge uniting the two sections and in or adjacent to the vertical plane thereof when the carrier is in working position, and it moves about the said hingewhen the carrier-sections are being foldedfron1 the position above the hinge to a position below it, whereby the rope, without being lengthened or shortened can lie in a line above the hinge and also in a line below the hinge, and in each of these positions it will sustain the carrier-frame, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination with a supportingframe, of a carrier-frame formed with two sections hinged to each other, the carrier as a whole being hinged to the supporting-frame, a supporting-rope for the carrier, and means substantially such as described, whichlwhen the sections of the carrier-frame are being folded-cause the supporting-rope to swing vertically as a whole without varying its length, during-the first part of the folding operation, in a direction opposite to that taken by the outer end of the outer carrier-section, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination with a supportingframe, of a carrier-frame hinged thereto and formed with two sections which are hinged together near their lower adjacent corners whereby the outer section is adapted to fold downward against the under side of the inner section, a supporting-rope, and a frame carried by the outer section and to which the rope is connected at a point in or substantially in the vertical plane of the hinge uniting the two sections, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination with a supportingframe, of acarrier hinged thereto and formed with two sections which are hinged together near their lower adjacent corners whereby the outer section is adapted to fold downward against the under side of the inner section, a supporting-rope having attachment upon the supporting-frame and connected with the outer section at a point between its ends, and a frame, 18, carried by the outer section and with which the rope is connected at a point immediately adjacent to or in the vertical plane of the hinge which unites the two sections, and above a line connecting the attachments of the rope upon the supportingframe and the outer section of the carrier frame, substantially as set forth.

11. The combination with a supportingframe, of a carrier-frame hinged thereto and formed with two sections which are hinged together so as to permit the outer section to fold downward, a supporting-rope, and means substantially such as described which, when the carrier-sections are being folded, first causes the inner section to rise-as the outer section is folding downwardand to then remain substantially stationaryas the outer section completes its movement-and at the same time cause the said rope to support the carrier as a whole and to offer a measure of resistance to the downward movement of the outer section, said rope remaining of a fixed length during all the said steps, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination with a supportingframe, of a carrier-frame hinged thereto and formed of two sections hinged together so as to permit the outer section to fold downward relative to the inner section, a frame, 18 carried by the outer section near its hinged end and projecting upward therefrom, a supporting-rope connected with the said frame, and a winding device for the rope upon the supporting-frame, the relation of the point of connection of the rope with the frame, 18, being such that when the two sections move relatively to each other about their hinge- 8o axis the rope crosses said axis before the outer section comes to its pendent vertical position, whereby the outer section may be drawn from such pendent position close to the under side of the inner section, by wind- 8 5 ing in the rope, substantially as set forth.

13. The combination with a carrier-frame formed of a plurality of sections which are adapted to be folded relative to each other, and an endless carrier supported thereby, of 0 a frame, 30, supported below one of the sections of the carrier-frame, the returning portion of the belt passing over the said frame and being supported thereby, whereby, when the stacker-frame is being folded, the lower portion of the endless carrier is sustained and prevented from falling upon the ground, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN B. BARTHOLOMEW.

Witnesses:

O. 0. BULKLEY, L. M. BULKLEY. 

